Sweeping Realignment Is a Strong Possibility

Given the intensity displayed during the interleague meetings between the Angels and Dodgers, imagine the emotions during a Freeway Series amid the October playoffs.

With both teams challenging for a title, this could be the last shot at a long-coveted October confrontation-- as league champions, at least.

Under the sweeping realignment plan being considered by baseball, the Angels and Dodgers would end up in the same division--an eight-team federation of clubs in the Pacific and Mountain time zones.

The concept, based geographically and a spinoff of increased attendance for interleague matchups that emphasized more natural rivalries, would completely reorganize the American and National leagues, discarding 100 years or more of tradition, history and records.

“Tradition and history are certainly important, but you have to change with the times,” Angel President Tony Tavares said.

“The leagues were so much smaller and more manageable at one time. We now draw 16,000 regularly and sell out for the Dodgers.

“You have to give the fans what they want.”

Dodger owner Peter O’Malley said on Friday that he does not know enough about the overall concept to comment.

“All I can say at this point is that I hope it’s well thought out and intelligently analyzed,” he said. “It’s a major change.”

The owners must make a decision by Sept. 30. It takes three-fourths approval, or 23 of the 30 clubs. Any club asked to change leagues can veto it.

Baseball is currently conducting fan surveys, but Tavares, a member of the realignment committee and supportive of the total makeover, said the next few weeks of internal lobbying should determine the plan’s fate.

“I think it has a chance. I think it has better than a chance,” he said. “The clubs are surprisingly open-minded, and [acting Commissioner Bud Selig] is pushing real hard for it.

“He’s usually skeptical, but he seems very optimistic about this.”

Selig, who usually gets what he wants, spoke cautiously when reached by phone, but said two things are certain in regard to 1998 realignment:

--Whether as few as two or three clubs are involved or as many as 14 or 15, it will not be done in two phases over two or more years.

“We will do what we need to do now,” Selig said, adding it would be a mistake to apply a Band-Aid and try to correct it later.

--There will be a return to an unbalanced schedule, meaning clubs will play more intra-division games.

“Nobody disagrees on the need for realignment, but the question is how to get there,” Selig said, acknowledging that he has received encouragement from the clubs in regard to the sweeping revision.

“We’re dealing with enormous history and tradition, and we’re extremely sensitive to that,” he said. “It enters into every equation, but at the same time it’s a new era.”

There were 16 teams in 1960. There will be 30 next year, with the addition of Arizona and Tampa Bay. There could be 32 a few years later.

The owners, in a rush to meet a deadline promised to the expansion teams, acceded to the lobbying of Arizona owner Jerry Colangelo last January and put the Diamondbacks in the National League West and Tampa Bay in the AL West, a curious bit of geography they are now trying to correct.

There are several scenarios, but in almost every case, one or more clubs oppose moving.

But there may be less reluctance when just about everybody is asked to move in the following concept:

LEAGUE A (14 teams):

EAST: New York Yankees, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Expos.

CENTRAL/SOUTH: Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

LEAGUE B (16 teams):

WEST: Angels, Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks.

CENTRAL: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers.

Said Tavares: “Geography isn’t the total answer, but it is for teams in the West.”

He meant that an increased number of regional games would lessen travel demands that currently require Western teams, he said, to be 20% to 30% better than their opponents and would provide for more interest-promoting telecasts that are now limited because of the 4 or 4:30 p.m. starting time when a West Coast team is in the East.

“There’s definite advantages for West Coast teams, but it’s a radical realignment that requires serious examination, not unbridled emotion,” Padre President Larry Lucchino said.

Detroit President John McHale expressed similar caution.

“We are open and flexible to possibilities, but we won’t say, ‘Put us wherever you want to solve your other problems.’

“Our rivalries with the Yankees and Red Sox are something special, and aren’t to be discarded lightly.”

Among McHale’s questions:

What would happen to league rules and records? What about umpires, the designated hitter? Would a wild-card or second-place team in each of the four divisions qualify for the playoffs?

The plan also must be approved by the players’ union as part of the union’s consent rights over the schedule. The union would oppose removal of the designated hitter and has already indicated it will not approve any format that has Tampa Bay in the West because of the travel demands the Devil Rays would experience in an unbalanced schedule.

“We’re still in an embryonic stage on this,” Selig said.

Perhaps, but if the embryo is going to grow in ‘98, it has to happen in the next two months.